صفحة 431 من 657

The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, and when I coupled

it with my knowledge that the doctor was furnished with a supply

of creatures from India, I felt that I was probably on the right

track. The idea of using a form of poison which could not

possibly be discovered by any chemical test was just such a one

as would occur to a clever and ruthless man who had had an

Eastern training. The rapidity with which such a poison would

take effect would also, from his point of view, be an advantage.

It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could distinguish

the two little dark punctures which would show where the poison

fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the whistle. Of

course he must recall the snake before the morning light revealed

it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by the use of the

milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned.